The Players and Trainers Born Outside in the USA
Although the US is a country of newcomers, the NFL is still dominated by US-born players. Only five percent of participants are foreign-born, and the majority of them enter the game by going to college in the United States. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly rare, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.
James Cook’s Unlikely Journey to the NFL
Cook has been in charge of athlete growth at the Cleveland Browns. That’s an achievement in itself, but it’s incredible considering he grew up in England, is in his late 20s, and did not played professional sport. Cook first saw the NFL as a 12-year-old while surfing channels with his father and came across what he called a “strange and amazing” game. He started playing locally and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL quarterback born in Europe. He got as far as representing Team GB, but his plans to go to university in the US were financially prohibitive.
“I was scooping popcorn, cleaning seats, making burgers, doing a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL people needed me, I would adjust my schedule and help out. Being a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up all over London and throw the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”
This is where he encountered Aden Durde, who had stints with the Carolina Panthers and Chiefs during his playing days before he established the International Player Pathway program in that year with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first UK full-time coach in NFL annals, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I had a lot of fun with it, coaching some remarkable players,” he says. “We had Louis Rees-Zammit; Clayton, who was selected by Buffalo; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I traveled to Australia to work with younger players from across the Pacific to introduce them to the US college system, like what I had hoped to do.”
Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL
Like his predecessor before him, Cook made the jump from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns called out of the blue,” he explains. “They had a hybrid role supporting younger players, optimizing efficiency on the training ground, working closely with physios, the head coach and GM. It’s a really hands-on role, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding players from abroad who had never played the sport. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and routines: learning to take care of their health and handle a huge game plan. But also just being available for players. That’s the same across the board. And I love that.”
Does being an Brit who did not compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a imagined barrier than an actual one,” states Cook. “I get a lot of Lasso-style jokes and loads of players call me ‘bruv’ as they love that. It’s more about checking myself. I say ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we get nervous or under pressure about the same things and need support in the same ways. If players understand you can assist them, they don’t care about your origin or what accent. And when people know that you care, all the other stuff melts away.”
Benefits of Coming From Outside the NFL Bubble
Originating from outside the NFL bubble has its advantages. “I addressed in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we walked out, one of our offensive linemen asked me about the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. Teammates are genuinely curious. NFL organizations are more diverse than people think. We have staff from various origins, a range of experiences. Our mantra at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are unique so lean into it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”
The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than nurturing global talent. Jordan Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who won the Super Bowl earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, is among the rare IPP graduates to have made it to the very top.
International Athletes and Their Journeys
Foreign players have usually been specialists, recruited from different sports. Bobby Howfield swapped soccer for English clubs for being a placekicker for the Broncos and Jets; Mick Luckhurst graduated from rugby in England to the Falcons roster. If you do not want to be a special teams player and were not educated in the American system, it’s very challenging to make the leap to the NFL.
Ayo Oyelola, a Londoner who was part of Chelsea’s academy before discovering the sport at Nottingham University, has achieved that. He competed in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before taking his talents to the Jaguars and Steelers.
Pircher’s story is equally improbable. At over two meters and heavyweight, the from Italy was clearly not suited for his preferred games, soccer and the sport, so took up American football in his late teens. He stood out while representing teams in Europe and Germany, as well as the national side, and was offered a spot on the IPP in 2021.
The following year, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a member of the Rams training team. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Detroit Lions, Seahawks and Washington Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in every locker room but is hasn’t had game time on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?
“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” notes the 26-year-old. “We have players from various regions, so it isn’t an issue. At first, they ask: ‘You got an accent – what’s your background?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Vikings have a really inclusive environment, a excellent team, a great franchise.”
Despite devoting most of training with his fellow linemen, Pircher has immersed himself in the social mix at his clubs. “Naturally the O-line is always close-knit because we are a unit and altogether one, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my best man, actually – played receiver at the LA. The specialist from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for a while at the LA Rams. Quarterbacks, defensive linemen, specialists: we’ve got to be there for each other.”
Inspiring the Future
Pircher is conscious he symbolizes not only Italy and Austria. “In my view every nation beyond the United States. The better every IPP graduate performs, the more youth who play football in Italy, in Europe, wherever, can realize: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in consistently, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of kids contacting me, asking for tips. It’s nice to inspire them to experience what I’ve achieved.”
The IPP graduates are all invited to Florida annually to train the new group of potential NFL internationals. “Almost all of us return
